Tobacco basket



Jan. 5, 1932.

J. R. FEL-rs ET AL 1,839,213

TOBACCO BASKET Filed sept. 1'5. 1929 constructed of metal. The

-Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES JAMES RICHARD FELTS AND JAMES ERVIN EDGIN, F CHAPIVINSBBO, TENNESSEE TOBACCO BASKET application niet september 13, 1929. 'Serial No. 392,438.

Our present invention has reference to a marketing basket for leaf tobacco, and our primary object is l slat basket for this purpose which may and cheaply constructed and marketed, shall be strong and durable to withstand the rough usage to which it is subjected an which has its base mounted on runners so that the same can be slid in any direction-upon the floor of the warehouse in which the sales are made.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood,

f the improvement further resides in certain other novel features of construction, combination and operative association of parts, a satisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of a tobacco marketing basket in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the slides or runners.

ln certain tobacco growing sections the crop is largely marketed on whatv is known as loose floors and the tobacco is packed in a shallow basket and put in rows upon the floor of the warehouse and the sales are made from these baskets. The baskets are of a regulation size, that is, l2 X l2 inches, of a depth from five to siX inches. These baskets, to the best of our knowledge, are constructed o wood and asV the same are subjected to hard usage, especially in view of the fact that the tobacco containing baskets are slid alongthe floor of the warehouse the same are comparatively short lived and seldom outlive a single season.

ln carrying out our invention we produce a slat basket for this purpose which is wholly slats are arranged in longitudinal and transverse series. rEhe slats are all of the same thickness and width and are woven or threaded between each other so that the same are equidistantly spaced. The slats 1, at their lapping portions the line 2-2 h noted that a gap or opening is le are riveted together, as `at Q.. The slats are constructed to provide a fiat bottom 3 and angle sides and ends 4l, respectively. By reference to Figure l of the drawings it willbe ft at the corners of the basket. The ends of the slats that provide the sides and ends of the basket are rounded upon themselves, as at 5, an have their straight extensions riveted, as at 6, to the slats proper. rllhrough these rounded 5 portions or eyes 5 we pass a continuous hollow netal bar 7 that provides the rim of the basret. f

To partly reinforcey the basket we coil around the rim 7 adjacent to theicorners o the basket preferably hollow rods 8. These rods passlthrough rounded orV bent ends 9 of the slats l() that provide the longitudinal elements of the inclined sides and ends of the basket.- lf desired, and as disclosed by the drawings shorter slatsor plates lO may be secured to the longer end slats and have their outer ends rounded around the reinforcing rods 8. The vrodsl may be threaded and woven between the'4 slats that constitute the bottom 3 of the basket and the rods 8 being'arranged both longitudinally and transversely of the basket serve to materially reinforce the same. y

As previously stated it is customary to slide the basket along the door of the warehouse in almost any direction so that the "contents thereof may be conveniently inspected and to provide therefor and to likewise reinforce the bottom as well as the sides 0f the basket we provide metal slides or shoes whose body portions, from points adjacent to the center and ends thereofhave their outer faces centrally rgrooved so that these l portions of the runners 12 are substantially V-shaped in cross section. The runners l2 each have al flat central portion lil and the ends thereofV are bent angularly7 as rat l5. The inner faces of Athe runners are fl t throughout and as disclosed by the drawings the runners are arranged both longitudinally, transversely and diagonally below the bottom and the angle ends 15 thereof are brought against the angle sides of the basket an riveted or otherwise effectively secured thereto. The straightlapping central portions 13 of the runners are riveted together and may likewise beV riveted to the slatted bottom.

and end slats. serve as means also riveted to the bottom, side he runners 12 not only whereby the basket can be readily slid along the Hoor of the Warehouse in any direction but also materially increase the strength of the basket construction and it is believed that the simplicity of our improvement as Well selves to those skilled in the art Without further detailed description, it being, hoW- ever, thought necessary to state that We do not Wish to be restricted to the precise details of construction herein disclosed and, therefore, hold ourselves entitled to make such changes therefrom as fairly fall Within the scope of what we claim.

Having described the invention, We claim:

l. A basket including' a bottom and sides,

`g transversely, longitudinally and diagonall*7 of the bottoni and crossing each other centrally of the bottom and secured together, said runners having their end portions angularly disposed and secured t0 the sides of the basket.

2. A basket attachment comprising a plurality of runners arranged angularly to each other and provided with Hat portions intermediate their ends and disposed in engage- Inent With each other and secured together, said runners having annularly related portions and each runner of substantial V-shape in cross section, said runners adapted to engage the bottom and Walls of a basket and secured to the Walls of said basket.

3. A basket comprising a plurality of interwoven longitudinally and transversely arranged slats forming the bottom of a basket and secured together Where engaging each other and having' their end portions angularly disposed to provide sides and ends to the basket, a frame having the ends of the slats secured thereto, longitudinal and transverse rods secured to the fram-e and bent to conform to the conteur of the sides, ends. and bottom of the basket With some of said rods earing against the slats Where bent to form the sides and ends of said basket, and means the corners of the basket.

In testimony whereof We aiEX our signatures.

JAMES RICHARD FELTS. JAMES ERVIN EDGIN. 

